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A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
Long ago in ancient Scotia
inside a deep and misty moor
where the blew chilled and freezing
through the old huts rotted door
A young girl screamed on twisted sheets
as birth pains wracked her frame
as her husband tried in despitation
to relieve her of the pain
But theres no medicine to give her
nor a cup of ail or wine
no herbs or roots available
none that he could find
For they were poor, just farmers
and no gold coins could be found
so with no money for to give them
no midwife came around
T'was no mother there that day
to help a daughter, loved
for God had taken her away
to a better home above
And so the husband knelt in prayer
worried and with head in hands
praying to his God above
some kind of help to send
And suddenly there came a sound
loud knocking at the door
and he wondered who could be about
on this cold and snowing moor
And as he opened up the latch
t'was only just a crack
he saw a bent old woman standing there
dressed all in faded black
No satchel did she carry
no cloak was oer 'her head
she shivered as she stood there
for her face and hands were frozen red
He took her arm and pulled her in
and to the fire she went
and with the flames she warmed herself
this woman old and bent
And then a scream came once again
from the dark and curtained bed
and she looked at him with questioning eyes
it's my sick wife, she said
So she went to see what she could do
relieved, she saw t'was only pains of birth
something she knew a lot about
what she'd done best on earth
So she smiled up at his worried face
with a twinkle in her eye
boil me some water quickly now
and find some twine, and try
To find you're cleanest rags, she said
and scissors from the drawer
you're wifes going to have her baby soon
and I'll show you what they're for
And as he scurried there in sweet relief
he sent up a silent prayer
Thanking God for what He's done
for sending some one there
Then she ushered him outside
go hunt us up some meat
for you're wife is going to need much strength
and as for milk, so the baby, too can eat
He found a goat out in the snow
and soon he brought it home
and as he opened up the door
he smiled, for his baby had just been born
His wife lay sleeping on the bed
it seemed in quiet peace
a tiny bundle lay in the old womans arms
in white and downy fleece
And he looked into his new son's eyes
who seemed in perfect health
and said, my son, we're very poor
but in our love, you'll have much health
And as she rocked the baby now
above her head a halo glowed
quickly now, she laid the baby down
and said she had to go
You can't leave now, he said to her
the snow is deep, the day is cold
but still she gathered up her cloak
this woman bent and old
And then a sweet smile crossed her face
and she said 'my work is done'
so out the door the woman went
into the morning sun
And one last thing she said to him
and placed a finger to her nose
you've been blessed and you'll be fine
for its God's love that you chose
For t'was many years ago, she said
in another place and time
that a baby boy was born this day
to a virgin sweet and fine
So merry Christmas to you now
just go, enjoy your day
I think I hear the baby crying
and I'll be on my way
And then she simply disappeared
as she walked down the lane
and so an angel God had sent to help
had gone home once again
